Smoothing iron



Oct. 14 1924. 1,511,269

M. FfDEcK-:R

SMOOTHI NG IRON Filed April 20. 1923 Patened Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES MATTINE F. DECKER, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SMOIOTHIN G IRON.

Application filed April 20, 1923. SerialNo. 633,545.

To allwhom 'it/may concern:

Be it known -that I, MA'rrrNE F. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at inneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State o-f Minnesota,`have invented certain new and useful Improvements in smoothing Irons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for smoothing, creasing and pressing garments, and the m-ain object is to provide an electric'ally heated body member particularly adapted for use by tailors and .seamstresses, to be used by them when making garments, or creasing and lpressing small parts or portions of the same. Further objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specificat'ion, and are embodied in the structure illust-rated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a base portion or cabinet of a portable type of small sewing machine, in which is em-bodied my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the cabinet door open and my improved pressing device swung out into operative position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, as seen substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged Sectional elev-ation on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters, 5` designates a well known and common construction of sewing machine cabinet, having a downwardly swinging door 6, hinged as at 7 On a fixed pin 8, within the cabinet 5, is journaled the angular integral extension 9 of a base or shelf 10. The door 6 may be provided with a snap spring ll to releasably hold the shelf 10 in an extended position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A semi-cylindrical hollow body member 12 is provided with integral legs 13, which are secured to the shelf 10. The member 12 is closed at one end by a cap 14, and within the member is housed an electrical heating element 15, having a pair of terminals 16, projecting through the cap 14 to be connected to a socket 17 of a circuit cable 18. The

bottom of the member 12 is insulated from the heating element, as at 19, so that the major portion of the heat will be absorbed by the upper part of the member, which upper part is suitably curved, as shown in Fig. 4.

A thin sheet metal casing 20 may be used to secure the heating element and insulation together, so that they may be inserted or removed as a unit.

The operation and use of the device may be briefly described as follows:

garment maker'in sewing a garment is frequently required to press out seams and even out small parts of the garment, while sewing the various pieces together. Heretofore it has therefore been customary for him, or her, to frequently get up and go to an ironing board or table and press the parts down with an ordinary flat iron. This, in the present instance, is unnecessary. After the door is opened the iron is pulled out and connected with an electric circuit, until it becomes properly heated. Now, when, for instance a scam is to be pressed out, the operator takes hold at each end thereof with his hands, and slides the seam over the iron, whose upper surface is very smooth. The garment may be slightly moistened if so desired. By briskly pulling the seam over the iron a number of times the desired result is readily accomplished, and the operator may then continue with the sewing operation, with but very little delay.

It is understood that'the device need not necessarily be mounted but may be complete as a unit which can be placed on a table or other support. It is further understood that suitable modifications may be made in the general design and structural details of the device as herein shown, provided, however, that such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a main body member having a curved smooth top surface for smoothing and creasing purposes and an electric heating element, within the member, to heat saidsurface.

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow body member having a curved upper surface for smoothing and creasing Vpurposes, and a heating element located within the member, to heat said surface.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow body member having a curved upper surface for smoothing and creasing purposes, a heating element in the member to heat the upper portion there-of, and an insulation between the bottom of the element lin-X and the body member,` to prevent overheating of the lower end of the body' member.

4. In a device of the class described, a hollow body member having a curved upper surface for smoothing and creasing purpose, a heating element located within the member to heat the same, and terminals of said heating element extending from one end of the body member.

5. In combination in a cabinet of the character described having a door, a base pivotally mounted in the cabinet to swing out when the door is open, a body member, having acurved upper surface for smooth- In testimony whereof I affiX' my signa- 25 ture.

MATTINE F. DECKER. 

